Universal serial bus docking station

ABSTRACT

A Universal Serial Bus docking station is provided in which a USB hub includes a housing which may receive at least one additional USB module which is connected to the USB hub without the use of an additional cable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, up to three USB modules may be inserted into the housing in stacked arrangement. In addition, each USB module maybe used as a stand alone unit by snapping a sleeve onto the rear of the module. Still further, a USB connector is adapted for use standing vertically from a circuit board and being retained by spring clips extending through the circuit board in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to so-called Universal Serial Businterconnects, in general, and to Universal Serial Bus hubs in whichcabling is simplified, in particular.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Universal Serial Bus ("USB") development as a standard for use withpersonal computers has been motivated by the necessity to provide forconnection of the personal computer ("PC") to the telephone, thenecessity for ease-of-use or the so called "plug and play" approach, andthe need to facilitate the addition of external peripherals. For years,computer users have been limited in their ability to add devices totheir computers.

The Universal Serial Bus of "USB" is a standard peripheral interface forattaching PCs to a wide variety of peripheral devices includingkeyboards, mice, scanners, printers, game controllers, modems and otherperipherals. With USB, up to 128 devices may be interconnected.

All types of devices are now available as USB devices. No longer does auser have to worry about configuring his/her system. When a USB deviceis plugged in, the device is automatically detected, and the software isautomatically configured. The USB is useable with video capture devices,keyboards, mice and scanners. USB devices require a central processingunit as a host unit.

The standards for USB are publicly available and are the result of acollaborative effort by major computer manufacturers. The UniversalSerial Bus Specification revision 1.1 (Sep. 23, 1998) by Compaq, Intel,Microsoft and NEC sets forth connectivity standards for PC architecture.It sets forth a "fast, bi-directional, isochronous, low-cost,dynamically attachable serial interface structure that is consistentwith the requirements of the PC platform of today and tomorrow." Thespecification defines an industry-standard USB and describes the busattributes, the protocol definition, types of transactions, busmanagement, and the programming interface required to design and buildsystems and peripherals that are compliant with the standard. All USBdevices connect to the USB through ports on specialized USB devicesreferred to as "hubs". Hubs are wiring concentrators. Attachment pointsto hubs are referred to as ports. Each hub converts a single attachmentpoint into multiple ports. The architecture supports concatenation ofmultiple hubs.

The USB topology is such that the USB connects USB devices with a USBhost in a tiered star topology. A hub is at the center of each star.Each wire segment of the USB is a point-to-point connection between thehost and a hub or function, or a hub connected to another hub orfunction. The upstream port of a hub connects towards the host. Eachdownstream port of a hub allows connection to another hub or function.

In the USB topology there is only one host. A root hub is integratedwithin the host system to provide one or more attachment points.Additional attachment points to the USB are provided by hubs. Each hubmay be connected to additional hubs and to functions which providecapabilities to the system, such as an ISDN connection, a digitaljoystick or speakers. All USB devices attach to the USB through ports onhubs.

The USB transfers signal and power over a four wire cable. All USBdevices have an upstream connection, and USB cables have an upstream anda downstream connector. The upstream and downstream connectors are notmechanically interchangeable to eliminate illegal loopback connectionsat the hubs.

In accordance with USB standards, all attached devices connect to thehost device through a single connector type using a tiered startopology. Personal computers typically have one or two USB ports. Toprovide for connecting to a number of devices, a cable connection isprovided to a USB hub via a USB cable. Currently, hubs having four orseven ports are dominant, which give four or seven additional USBconnectors. In addition, a USB cable may connect from the USB hub to oneor more additional USB hubs. One of the limitations that applies to USBarchitecture is a distance limitation which is a 5 meter cable length,or its electrical equivalent, between devices.

A PC configuration using USB hubs and functions will require a number ofdifferent items to be cabled together. The cables interconnecting thehubs and functions creates an undesirable cabling appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the invention, a docking stationfor a universal serial bus includes a hub having an upstream connectorand a plurality of downstream connectors. The hub is disposed generallyin a horizontal plane. A docking housing is coupled to the hub. Thedocking housing receives at least one USB module. The docking housingcarries a first connector that is electrically coupled to the hub. Themodule carries a mating first connector configured to electricallyconnect to the first connector when the module is inserted into thedocking housing. When the module is so inserted, the module isautomatically connected to the hub without use of a separate cable.Further in accordance with the invention, additional modules may beinserted into the docking station. In the illustrative embodiment, thedocking station can accommodate up to three modules. The three modulesmay be any combination of USB hubs and USB functions.

Further in accordance with the invention, a docking station for auniversal serial bus (USB) comprises a housing having a first portion; aUSB hub located at least partially within said housing and comprising aplurality of connectors at a first portion of said USB hub, saidplurality of connectors exposed at the first portion of said housing;and a first USB module located at least partially within said housingand comprising at least one connector at a first portion of said firstUSB module, the at least one connector exposed at the first portion ofsaid housing. The docking station for the USB can further comprise asecond USB module located at least partially within said housing andcomprising at least one connector at a first portion of said second USBmodule, the at least one connector of said second USB module exposed atthe first portion of said housing. Said USB hub can further comprise afirst additional connector at the first portion of said USB hub and canbe covered by said housing; said first USB module can further comprise asecond additional connector located at the first portion of said firstUSB module, can be covered by said housing, and can be electricallycoupled to the first additional connector of said USB hub; and saidsecond USB module can further comprise a third additional connectorlocated at the first portion of said second USB module, can be coveredby said housing, and can be electrically coupled to the first additionalconnector of said USB hub. The plurality of connectors of said USB hubcan comprise a USB type A connector and a USB type B connector. Saidhousing can have a second portion opposite the first portion of saidhousing; said USB hub can have a second portion opposite the firstportion of said USB hub and protruding from the second portion of saidhousing; said first USB module can be removable from said housing andcan have a second portion opposite the first portion of said first USBmodule and protruding from the second portion of said housing; and saidsecond USB module can be removable from said housing and can have asecond portion opposite the first portion of said second USB module andprotruding from the second portion of said housing.

Further in accordance with the invention, a USB module may be used as astand alone unit with a removable sleeve that snapingly engages themodule. The USB module includes a housing containing USB interfacingcircuitry. A connector is disposed on the rear of the housing, and oneor more first retaining elements are carried on the housing. The sleeveadapted to cover a portion of said housing has one or more secondretaining elements adapted to engage corresponding ones of the firstretaining elements, whereby the sleeve is removably retained on the USBmodule housing.

Further in accordance with the invention, a USB connector is providedwhich has an elongated sleeve and a plurality of electrical contactscarried therein. A plurality of electrical connector pins extend fromsaid sleeve in and parallel with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve. Apair of retainer arms or clips extend from the sleeve in a directiongenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each retainer arm is of thesame metal material as the sleeve and has a portion bent angularly suchthat when said connector is mounted onto a circuit board, the retainerarms exert retaining forces against said circuit board to retain theconnector, thereby facilitating assembly. A shoulder disposed on thesleeve proximate the retainer arms provides surfaces that may becaptured between a circuit board and a retainer plate disposed parallelto said circuit board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the followingdetailed description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in whichlike reference designators are used to identify like elements, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a top planar view of a Universal Serial Bus Docking Stationwith electronic modules;

FIG. 2 is a front planar view of the Station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side planar view of the Station of FIG. 1, the rightside view being a mirror image of the left side view;

FIG. 4 is a bottom planar view of the Station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the Station of FIG. 1 with electronicmodules;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the Station of FIG. 1 with onemodule separated from the docking station common portion;

FIG. 7 is a right side exploded perspective view of the Station of FIG.1 with three modules separated from the common docking station portion;

FIG. 8 is a rear exploded perspective view of the Station of FIG. 1 withthree modules separated from the common docking station portion;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the Station of FIG. 1 with all modulesremoved;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the Station of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the Station of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the station of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 shows the station of FIG. 9 in exploded perspective view;

FIG. 14 shows a circuit board of FIG. 13 in rear planar view;

FIG. 15 is an explode perspective view of a module and a cover;

FIG. 16 is a bottom planar view of the module and cover of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the module and cover of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a left side view of the module and cover of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a rear view of the module and cover of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a connector mountable onto the circuit boardof FIG. 14;

FIG. 21 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front end view of the connector of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 23 is a view of a portion of the circuit board of FIG. 14 adaptedto receive the connector of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The entirety of the Universal Serial Bus Specification Revision 1.1 isincorporated herein by reference. A Universal Serial Bus Docking Stationis shown in FIGS. 1-13. The docking station 100 includes a hub 200 andis populated with modules 101, 102, 103. Each of modules 101, 102, 103can be either a USB hub or a USB function. A USB hub as used herein is aUSB device that provides additional connections to a USB. A USB functionis a USB device that provides capability to a host, such as for example,an ISDN connection, a digital microphone, or speakers. Where a module isa USB function, it in some instances provides the necessary interfacebetween the actual item providing the functionality and the USB.Although three modules 101, 102, 103 are shown inserted into dockingstation 100, as is clearly evident from FIGS. 6-8, docking station 100may be populated with 0, 1, 2 or 3 modules 101, 102, 103.

FIGS. 15-19 illustrate a representative module 101. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that module 101 may be a USB hubor a USB function. More specifically, module 101 may be used inconjunction with docking station 100, or it may be a stand alone unit.When used as a stand alone unit, a snap on sleeve 110 is used inconjunction with the module 101. Module 101 includes detents 151 on itsright and left sides, only one detent being shown in FIG. 15. Detents151 will engage corresponding ribs 153 carried on housing 110. Only onerib 153 is shown in FIG. 15. It will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the positions of the ribs and detents may be reversed orother arrangements for providing a locking snap arrangement can beprovided. It should be noted that in the rear view of module 101 shownin FIG. 19, no particular connectors are shown. The connectors thatwould be carried by a module 101 are determined by whether module 101 isa USB hub or a USB function. Such connectors may be carried in area 191on the rear of module 101. Each module 101, 102, 103 additionallycarries a connector 193. When module 101 is mated with sleeve 110, therear of sleeve 110 is open to permit any connectors on the rear ofmodule 101 to be accessible. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, whenmodule 101 is inserted into a docking station 100, connector 193receives mating connector 221 carried by docking station 100.

Turning back to FIG. 13, docking station 100 includes hub 200 whichcomprises bottom casing 201, upper casing 203 and its internalelectronics carried on printed circuit board 205. The electroniccircuitry may be any hub circuitry presently commercially utilized inUSB hubs. Mounted on printed circuit board 205 are a power connector207, a USB type B connector 209 (FIG. 11) and four USB type A connectors211 (FIG. 11). USB type B connector 209 is an upstream connector, andUSB type A connector 211 are downstream connectors. In the configurationshown for docking station 100, docking station 100 functions as a 7-porthub. A printed circuit board 220 extends vertically upward from hub 200.Printed circuit board 220 carried three connectors 221, 223 and 225,which are disposed to engage corresponding connectors 193 (FIG. 19) onmodules 101, 102, 103, respectively, when they are inserted into dockingstation 100. Printed circuit board 220 includes conductor paths 297(FIG. 14) from electrodes on connectors 221, 223, 225 to a connectorblock 235 which in turn mates with printed circuit board 205. Connector235 provide a directional translation for the conductor paths fromprinted circuit board 205 to vertical printed circuit board 220.Disposed upon circuit board 220 is a support 227 which has apertures229, 231, 233, each adapted to receive and support connectors 221, 223,225, respectively. Each connector as shown in FIGS. 20-22 includesshoulder portion 251 which is captured between printed circuit board 220and support retainer 227. Still further, each connector 221, 223, 225includes a pair of retaining clips 261, 263. Retaining clips 261, 263are formed as extensions of the steel shell of the connector. Eachextension 261, 263 is bent outward away from the center of a connectorand then inward. When the connector is mounted onto the printed circuitboard, clips 261 and 263 retain the connector in position until theterminals 253, 255, 257, 259 are soldered. As shown in the portion ofprinted circuit board 220 shown in FIG. 23, apertures 271 and 272 aresized to engage the clips 261 and 263 respectively, whereas apertures263, 265, 267, 269 are adapted to receive terminals 253, 255, 257, 259,respectively. This connector arrangement permits easy and fast assemblyprior to soldering of the connectors to the printed circuit board. Theconductor pattern on printed circuit board 220 is a representativepattern; it should be evident to those skilled in the art that theconductor paths from each connector 221, 223, 225 extends to connector235 where electrical connection is made to corresponding conductors oncircuit board 205.

As indicated above, each module 101, 102, 103 includes a connector whichis positioned such that it will engage one of the connectors 221, 223,225 when the corresponding module 101, 102, 103 is inserted into thedocking station 100.

The docking station body is formed of plastic material as are thehousings for modules 101, 102, 103 and the housing for hub 200.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the foregoingembodiments of the invention may be modified or changed withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. The embodimentsshown are intended to explain the invention, but are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be limited only by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A docking station for a universal serial bus, comprising:a hub having an upstream connector, and a plurality of downstream connectors; said hub being disposed generally in a horizontal plane; a docking housing coupled to said hub, said docking housing being adapted to receive at least one USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a first connector, said first connector being electrically coupled to said hub; said module carrying a mating first connector configured to electrically connect to said first connector when said module is inserted into said housing, whereby said module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable.
 2. A docking station in accordance with claim 1, wherein:said docking housing comprises a printed circuit board extending in a vertical plane, said printed circuit board carrying said first connector, said first connector being disposed within said docking housing so as to engage said mating first connector when said module is inserted into said housing.
 3. A docking station in accordance with claim 1, wherein:said module comprises a USB hub.
 4. A docking station in accordance with claim 1, wherein:said module comprises a USB function.
 5. A docking station in accordance with claim 1, comprising:at least a second USB module, said housing being adapted to receive a second USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a second connector, said second connector being electrically coupled to said hub; said second module carrying a mating second connector configured to electrically connect to said second connector when said module is inserted into said housing, whereby said second module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable.
 6. A docking station in accordance with claim 5, wherein:said first USB module comprises one of a USB hub or a USB function.
 7. A docking station in accordance with claim 5, comprising:at least a third USB module, said housing being adapted to receive a third USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a third connector, said third connector being electrically coupled to said hub; said third module carrying a mating third connector configured to electrically connect to said third connector when said third module is inserted into said housing, whereby said third module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable.
 8. A docking station in accordance with claim 6, wherein:said second USB module comprises one of a USB hub or a USB function.
 9. A docking station for a universal serial bus, comprising:a hub having an upstream connector, and a plurality of downstream connectors; said hub being disposed generally in a horizontal plane; a docking housing coupled to said hub, said docking housing being adapted to receive at least one USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a first connector, said first connector being electrically coupled to said hub; said module carrying a mating first connector configured to electrically connect to said first connector when said module is inserted into said housing, whereby said module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable; said docking housing comprises a printed circuit board extending in a vertical plane, said printed circuit board carrying said first connector, said first connector being disposed within said docking housing so as to engage said mating first connector when said module is inserted into said housing; said first connector carries a shoulder; and said docking housing comprises a retainer and support element having an aperture for receiving said connector and disposed adjacent said circuit board so as to retain said connector by capturing said shoulder between said circuit board and said retainer and support element.
 10. A USB module, comprising:a housing containing USB interfacing circuitry; a connector disposed on the rear of said housing; one or more first retaining elements carried on said housing; a sleeve adapted to cover a portion of said housing, said sleeve having one or more second retaining elements adapted to engage corresponding ones of said first retaining elements, whereby said sleeve is removably retained on said housing.
 11. A USB module in accordance with claim 10, wherein:said sleeve includes an open rear portion whereby said connector is accessible with said sleeve carried on said housing.
 12. A USB module in accordance with claim 10, wherein:said module is a USB hub.
 13. A USB module in accordance with claim 10, wherein:said module is a USB function.
 14. A USB connector comprising:an elongated sleeve: a plurality of electrical contacts carried in said sleeve; a plurality of electrical connector pins extending from said sleeve in and parallel with a longitudinal axis of said sleeve; a pair of retainer arms extending from said sleeve in a direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis; each of said retainer arms being of resilient material and having a portion bent angularly such that when said connector is mounted onto a circuit board, said retainer arms exert retaining forces against said circuit board to retain said connector; a shoulder disposed on said sleeve proximate said retainer arms, said shoulder providing surfaces that may be captured between a circuit board and a retainer plate disposed parallel to said circuit board.
 15. A docking station for a universal serial bus (USB) comprising:a housing having a first portion; a USB hub located at least partially within said housing, said USB hub comprising an upstream connector and a plurality of downstream connectors at a first portion of said USB hub, said upstream connector and said plurality of downstream connectors exposed at the first portion of said housing; and a first USB module located at least partially within said housing, said first USB module comprising at least one connector at a first portion of said first USB module, the at least one connector exposed at the first portion of said housing.
 16. The docking station in accordance with claim 15 wherein:said USB hub further comprises an additional connector at the first portion of said USB hub and covered by said housing.
 17. The docking station in accordance with claim 15 wherein:said first USB module further comprises an additional connector located at the first portion of said first USB module and covered by said housing.
 18. The docking station in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:a second USB module located at least partially within said housing, said second USB module comprising at least one connector at a first portion of said second USB module, the at least one connector of said second USB module exposed at the first portion of said housing.
 19. The docking station in accordance with claim 18 wherein:said USB hub further comprises a first additional connector at the first portion of said USB hub and covered by said housing; said first USB module further comprises a second additional connector located at the first portion of said first USB module, covered by said housing, and electrically coupled to the first additional connector of said USB hub; and said second USB module further comprises a third additional connector located at the first portion of said second USB module, covered by said housing, and electrically coupled to the first additional connector of said USB hub.
 20. The docking station in accordance with claim 19 wherein:said upstream connector of said USB hub comprises a USB type B connector; said plurality of downstream connectors of said USB hub comprise USB type A connectors; said housing has a second portion opposite the first portion of said housing; said USB hub has a second portion opposite the first portion of said USB hub and protruding from the second portion of said housing; said first USB module is removable from said housing and has a second portion opposite the first portion of said first USB module and protruding from the second portion of said housing; and said second USB module is removable from said housing and has a second portion opposite the first portion of said second USB module and protruding from the second portion of said housing. 